More than 50 arts groups and thousands of UK and international artists are to participate in the World Shakespeare Festival (WSF) 2012, which is supported by founding partner BP.

The festival - produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) - will celebrate the role of Shakespeare as the "world's playwright", with 70 events currently scheduled. Arts Council England and the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor are also backing the WSF, which will take place between 23 April and November 2012.

More than 1 million tickets will go on public sale from 10 October for a range of 70 events; exhibitions; and productions, with partners including the National Theatre and the BBC. The Barbican; Lyric Theatre, Belfast; the Iraqi Theatre Company; the Chekhov International Theatre Festival (Russia); and Shakespeare's Globe are also among those taking part.

RSC artistic director Michael Boyd said: "The World Shakespeare Festival celebrates this most international of artists at a time when the eyes of the world will be on London, that most international of cities, for the Olympic Games." Details: www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Image: Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad, Iraq - one of the WSF productions